Cumulative mortality effects on roe deer population dynamics in the boreal forest: Searching for pathways of population persistence

Ungulate populations can exhibit various growth patterns, which are influenced by factors such as predation and resource availability. Favourable environments can lead to irruptive growth, resulting in resource depletion. However, additional pressures from predation, and hunting can potentially impa...

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Main Authors: Cécile A.E. Carpentier, Marco Heurich, Olivier Gimenez, Olivier Devineau, John D.C. Linnell
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Elsevier 2024-12-01
Series:Global Ecology and Conservation
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Online Access:http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2351989424005225
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author Cécile A.E. Carpentier
Marco Heurich
Olivier Gimenez
Olivier Devineau
John D.C. Linnell
author_facet Cécile A.E. Carpentier
Marco Heurich
Olivier Gimenez
Olivier Devineau
John D.C. Linnell
author_sort Cécile A.E. Carpentier
collection DOAJ
description Ungulate populations can exhibit various growth patterns, which are influenced by factors such as predation and resource availability. Favourable environments can lead to irruptive growth, resulting in resource depletion. However, additional pressures from predation, and hunting can potentially impact population development leading to declines or even local extinctions. This study uses simulation models to explore the potential impact of multiple mortality sources on roe deer populations. We develop an age-structured, two-sex demographic matrix model for roe deer, which we parameterise with empirical demographic estimates obtained from published studies in Norway. We develop scenarios to assess the influence of mortality sources such as hunting, predation by lynx and red foxes, and environmental stochasticity on roe deer population dynamics. When simulating favourable environments without predation, roe deer populations tended to erupt due to the species' rapid reproductive capacity. However, additional sources of mortality, such as predation or harvest, lead to severe population declines, and even to quasi-extinction, especially when occurring in combination. Environmental stochasticity such as periodic severe winters with heavy snowfall reduces the growth rate and population densities even further. On the other hand, accounting for some form of spatial heterogeneity through immigration and refuges stabilised populations, with a reduced risk of quasi-extinction. Our results provide meaningful insights into the properties of this system allow implications for the management and identify areas where further exploration is needed.
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spelling doaj-art-e94b9dc7934849cab49391eec9c607d32025-08-20T02:49:05ZengElsevierGlobal Ecology and Conservation2351-98942024-12-0156e0331810.1016/j.gecco.2024.e03318Cumulative mortality effects on roe deer population dynamics in the boreal forest: Searching for pathways of population persistenceCécile A.E. Carpentier0Marco Heurich1Olivier Gimenez2Olivier Devineau3John D.C. Linnell4Department of Forestry and Wildlife Management, Faculty of Applied Ecology, Agricultural Sciences and Biotechnology, University of Inland Norway, Koppang, Norway; Corresponding author.Department of Forestry and Wildlife Management, Faculty of Applied Ecology, Agricultural Sciences and Biotechnology, University of Inland Norway, Koppang, Norway; Bavarian Forest National Park, Grafenau, Germany; Wildlife Ecology and Conservation Biology, Faculty of Environment and Natural Resources, University of Freiburg, Freiburg, GermanyCEFE, Univ Montpellier, CNRS, EPHE, IRD, Montpellier, FranceDepartment of Forestry and Wildlife Management, Faculty of Applied Ecology, Agricultural Sciences and Biotechnology, University of Inland Norway, Koppang, NorwayDepartment of Forestry and Wildlife Management, Faculty of Applied Ecology, Agricultural Sciences and Biotechnology, University of Inland Norway, Koppang, Norway; Norwegian Institute for Nature Research, Lillehammer, NorwayUngulate populations can exhibit various growth patterns, which are influenced by factors such as predation and resource availability. Favourable environments can lead to irruptive growth, resulting in resource depletion. However, additional pressures from predation, and hunting can potentially impact population development leading to declines or even local extinctions. This study uses simulation models to explore the potential impact of multiple mortality sources on roe deer populations. We develop an age-structured, two-sex demographic matrix model for roe deer, which we parameterise with empirical demographic estimates obtained from published studies in Norway. We develop scenarios to assess the influence of mortality sources such as hunting, predation by lynx and red foxes, and environmental stochasticity on roe deer population dynamics. When simulating favourable environments without predation, roe deer populations tended to erupt due to the species' rapid reproductive capacity. However, additional sources of mortality, such as predation or harvest, lead to severe population declines, and even to quasi-extinction, especially when occurring in combination. Environmental stochasticity such as periodic severe winters with heavy snowfall reduces the growth rate and population densities even further. On the other hand, accounting for some form of spatial heterogeneity through immigration and refuges stabilised populations, with a reduced risk of quasi-extinction. Our results provide meaningful insights into the properties of this system allow implications for the management and identify areas where further exploration is needed.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2351989424005225Additive mortalityMatrix modelPopulation dynamicsPredator-preyRoe deer (Capreolus capreolus)Wildlife management
spellingShingle Cécile A.E. Carpentier
Marco Heurich
Olivier Gimenez
Olivier Devineau
John D.C. Linnell
Cumulative mortality effects on roe deer population dynamics in the boreal forest: Searching for pathways of population persistence
Global Ecology and Conservation
Additive mortality
Matrix model
Population dynamics
Predator-prey
Roe deer (Capreolus capreolus)
Wildlife management
title Cumulative mortality effects on roe deer population dynamics in the boreal forest: Searching for pathways of population persistence
title_full Cumulative mortality effects on roe deer population dynamics in the boreal forest: Searching for pathways of population persistence
title_fullStr Cumulative mortality effects on roe deer population dynamics in the boreal forest: Searching for pathways of population persistence
title_full_unstemmed Cumulative mortality effects on roe deer population dynamics in the boreal forest: Searching for pathways of population persistence
title_short Cumulative mortality effects on roe deer population dynamics in the boreal forest: Searching for pathways of population persistence
title_sort cumulative mortality effects on roe deer population dynamics in the boreal forest searching for pathways of population persistence
topic Additive mortality
Matrix model
Population dynamics
Predator-prey
Roe deer (Capreolus capreolus)
Wildlife management
url http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2351989424005225
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